Anand R Kulkarni
Independent Sales & Marketing Professional
Self Employed
Essential qualification required
Knowing the difference between sales and marketing. Sales is a very small part of marketing. An open mind and the willingness to learn is a must as marketing is a vast field.
Effect of sales on an organization
Sales, but obviously generates revenue as well as profits for the organization. But monitoring receivables is more important. Many a company have lost out because the could not manage their cash-flows. Secondly, stocks, which have been paid for, get sold faster as anybody will prefer to keep their interest cost low. So we have a chance to sell more when we collect money faster.
Current Job description
Presently free-lancing as a sales & marketing professional advising soft luggage manufacturers, one based in Bangalore and another in Mumbai on their marketing set-up which includes product-mix, pricing strategy, marketing mix as also stock placement .
Essential skills
Product knowledge is very essential. Selling is most often done by convincing dealers on margins where you end up losing more often than not. Dealers being dealers will wrangle more margins out of you AND then use it as a bargaining point with your competitors. So, having product knowledge gives you an upper hand.
Importance of brand image
Brand image is as important as product quality.
Comparing Online sales with hardcore sales
In a hardcore sales process, we can judge a persons interest levels based on his/her responses or even body-language. In case we see the customer wavering, we can take corrective measures to hold onto his attention and try and complete the selling process. This cannot be said of online sales.
Motivating team members
Motivation is a continuous process and if followed can avoid team members losing hopes.